Before the release of his seminal, socially-conscious, 1972 soul album, Hang On In There, a young Mike James Kirkland released a number of singles as Mike and The Censations. Despite being offered a record deal by Curtis Mayfield, eventually making a deal with MCA, and selling in excess of 50,000+ singles, Mike and the Censations never released an album and never fully realized their potential. Here for the first time are all of his early-releases, along with some unreleased gems discovered on tapes as this project was being researched. Pigeon-holed as a doo-wop group by one of their early labels, Mike and The Censations fought to battle that image. In doing so they made a unique blend of soul, funk, and even jazz-influenced tunes, occasionally sneaking in an up-tempo number on a B-side. Their doo-wop tunes were pretty damn amazing too, dripping in soul and becoming big favorites of the low-rider scene.
"This is a VERY welcome re-issue ! I remember it took me years to find the previous Luv'N'Haight reissues of "Hang On In There" and "Doin' It Right"... Add to that the collection of earlier 45s from the 60s, and it 's definitively an essential Soul (re-)release!" - (Djouls/Paris DJs)

Tracklisting The Complete Story of Mike and The Censations (Included on both CD and LP Sets) :
01. Victim of Circumstance part 1
02. Don’t Mess With Me
03. There’s Nothing I Can Do About It
04. I Need Your Lovin
05. Be Mine Forever
06. Don’t Sell Your Soul
07. Baby What Are You Gonna’ Do
08. Split Personality
09. You’re Living A Lie
10. Shopping For Love
11. The Straw That Broke The Camels Back
12. Gonna Try To Get You Back
13. A Man Ain’t Nothing But a Man
14. Victim of Circumstance part 2

Tracklisting 'Hang On In There' & 'Doin It Right' albums (2CD set exclusive) :
01. What Have We Done
02. Where's The Soul of Man?
03. Hang On In There
04. Baby I Need You Loving
05. Give It To Me
06. Blota Blota
07. Your're Gonna Share Your Love
08. It's Alright with me
09. The Prophet (Bonus)
10. Together (Bonus)
11. Love Is (Bonus)
12. Got To Do It Right
13. It's Too Late
14. O Me O My
15. You Put It In My Mind
16. Doin' It Right
17. Love Is All We Need
18. Love Insurance
19. The Only Change

Djouls

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